124 
VOYAGE FOR THE DISCOVERY 
1819 . to a great degree have been avoided, by a sufficient quantity of fuel to keep 
U P two g 00 ^ fires on the lower deck, throughout the twenty-four hours ; but 
our stock of coals would by no means permit this, bearing in mind the pos- 
sibility of our spending a second winter within the Arctic circle ; and this 
comfort could only, therefore, be allowed on a few occasions, during the 
most severe part of the winter. 
In the course of my examination of the lower deck, I had always an op- 
portunity of seeing those few men who were on the sick list, and of re- 
ceiving from Mr. Edwards a report of their respective cases ; as also of con- 
sulting that gentleman as to the means of improving the warmth, ventilation, 
and general comfort of the inhabited parts of the ship. Having performed 
this duty, we returned to the upper deck, where I personally inspected the 
men ; after which they were sent out to walk on shore when the weather would 
permit, till noon, when they returned on board to their dinner. When the 
day was too inclement for them to take this exercise, they were ordered to 
run round and round the deck, keeping step to a tune on the organ, or, not 
unfrequently, to a song of their own singing. Among the men were a 
few who did not at first quite like this systematic mode of taking exercise ; 
but when they found that no plea, except that of illness, was admitted as 
an excuse, they not only willingly and cheerfully complied, but made it the 
occasion of much humour and frolic among themselves. 
The officers, who dined at two o’clock, were also in the habit of occupying 
one or two hours in the middle of the day in rambling on shore, even in our 
darkest period, except when a fresh wind and a heavy snow-drift confined 
them within the housing of the ships. It may be well imagined that at 
this period, there was but little to be met with in our walks on shore, which 
could either amuse or interest us. The necessity of not exceeding the 
limited distance of one or two miles, lest a snow-drift, which often rises very 
suddenly, should prevent our return, added considerably to the dull and 
tedious monotony which, day after day, presented itself. To the southward 
was the sea, covered with one unbroken surface of ice, uniform in its daz- 
zling whiteness, except that, in some parts, a few hummocks were seen 
thrown up somewhat above the general level. Nor did the land offer much 
greater variety, being almost entirely covered with snow, except here and 
there a brown patch of bare ground in some exposed situations, where the 
wind had not allowed the snow to remain. When viewed from the summit of 
the neighbouring hills, on one of those calm and clear days, which not 
